Machine for manufacturing reenforcing elements for concrete structures



March 3, 1936. J. G. THIBIERGEC 2,032,673

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING REENFORCING ELEMENTS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES \ff/C/W e e 726/: a

iiiimwg j a 2 sheets-sheet 1 JEAN G THIBIERGE INVENTOR OZAMZ ATTORNEY March 3, 1936. J, TH|B1ERGE 2,032,673

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING REENFORCING ELEMENTS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed Sept. 2?, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JEAN G. THJBIERGE INVENTOR ATTORNE Y6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BEEN- FORCING ELEMENTS FOR, CONCRETE STRUCTURES Jean Georges Thibierge, Douai, France Application September 27, 1934, Serial No. 745,771 In France September 27, 1933 6 Claims. (Cl. 140-'l1) In the manufacture of beams or pillars of operation. The inclination of the guide carryreenforced concrete, use is made of stirrups having said bar with respect to said axis can be ing two branches parallel toeach other and modified at will so as to correspondingly vary located in the same plane, or of loops of a genthe inclination of the spires and marks may be eral rectangular shape, also having all their parts provided in advance on said guide so as to per- 5 in a common plane. These stirrups or these mit of readily determining the length of the loops must be subsequently secured to the main spires. bars at suitable intervals, and their manufacture, However, I preferably provide, in parallel relaon the other hand, necessitates considerable tion with the axis of the shaft that controls the manual labour, for cutting at the required length bending operations, an arm the distance of which 1 and bending. from said axis is adjustable and which is pro- Systems of assembling the main reenforcing vided along its length with a series of stops,

bars have already been proposed which consist themselves adjustable in position. This arm of continuous bars bent in such manner as to makes it possible to materialize in an accurate include on the one hand elements at right angles manner, and therefore to determine without any 15 to the main bars and, on the other hand, oblique risk of error, the height of the reenforcement, elements connecting together these perpendicular that is to say the distance between the main parts. However this method has never been used leen erci g he end else the pitch of the helix for practical purposes due to the difiiculty of perthat is to say the interval between two successive forming the necessary bending operations. bends. This pitch can thus be made Variable 20 The object of the present invention is to prordin to any sir d law. under the, same vide a machine for making, on the spot and in conditions as the law of variation of the intera very simple manner, continuous assembling elevals between the usual stirrups or loop ments of a helical shape of the suitable pitch. t c as e un en 0 t e Va ati ns of the This machine thus avoids the necessity of cut- Shearing Stress alehg e beam- 5 ting steel elements and makes it possible to fit A Preferred embodiment of the present inVeIlthe assembling elements on the main reenforcing tion will be hereinafter described with reference bars without any other measurement, and, on to t a mpa y drawings. given m r ly by the other hand, the spires thus obtained are rigid W y Of p and in w enough for making it sufficient to secure the Figs- 1 d 2 Show two usual arrangements 3 0 assembling elements to the main reenforcing bars of stirrups 'D pieced at Variable intervals; only at intervals of three or four spires. Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive illustrate the application According to the present invention, it is pos- 0f th-tS arrangement the System Of p s csible toprepare spires having all of their parts eerdihg o the invention;

disposed obliquely'to the main reenforcing bars, Figs- 6 and 0 12 inclusive i a ly 5 that is to say forming a succession of V elements. Show the piiheiple 0f the present invention; It is also possible to prepare spires having parts FigS- 13 t0 inclusive c se an embodiment that are alternately at right angles to the main of the invention; reenforcing bars and oblique with respect there- Fig. 13 is a plan view of the machine accordto, that is to say forming a succession of N- ing to the invention; 0 shaped elements, the parts that are at right Fig. 14 is an end View on the right hand side; angles to the main reenforcing bars being placed Fig. 15 is a lateral elevational view; under the same conditions as the usual stirrups Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line XVI-XVI or loops, while the oblique parts are placed under of Fig. 14;

much better conditions concerning shearing Fig. 17 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale 45 stresses. Finally it is also possible to produce on t e i X -X of spires in the shape of a succession of inclined As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, reenforcements for N-shaped elements, that is to say all the branches reenforced concrete structures often include stirof which are inclined. in the same direction. rups or loops either at right angles (Fig. 1) or The machine according to the present invenoblique (Fi the n nf rcingbars, the tion essentially includes a knife revolving about intervals e e etc. between two consecutive stira horizontal axis and acting on a bar fed below rups or loops varying along a given beam, for this axis of revolution and obliquely with respect instance as a function of the shearing stress. thereto, this knife being automatically brought The object of the present invention is to permit back to its initial position after each bending of obtaining, in aquick and simple manner, spires either in the shape of a V (Fig. 3) or in the shape of an N (Fig. 4) or an inclined N (Fig. 5) of flat section, that is to say stirrup-shaped (Fig. 6) or of polygonal section (that is to say loop-shaped, Fig. 6'). The pitch of these spires may be, if desired, variable according to any law Whatever, for instance in such manner that the distances between two consecutive spires may be respectively equal to e e e as in the usual stirrups or loops (Figs. 1 and 2).

The machine that is shown in the drawings essentially comprises, in a frame I, a horizontal shaft 2 carrying a bending knife 3 rigidly mounted in an eccentric position with respect to the axis of said shaft, in the manner of a bayonet. On the same side as the knife, shaft 2 is axially prolonged by a rod 4.

On the rear end of shaft 2 is fixed a pulley 5 about which can be wound a cable intended to be fixed to a pedal for operating the machine by means of the foot, or a handle 6 permitting eventually to operate it manually. On the other hand in this pulley are provided holes 1 in which can be engaged a pin 8 which, by striking an adjustable stop 9 fixed to frame I, serves to limit the angle through which shaft 2 is caused to rotate to the desired value.

On the other hand, on a horizontal bracket l I fixed to frame I rests a guide I 2 adapted to pivot about an axis l3 and which can be fixed in position by means of any suitable fixation device such as l4.

This guide consists of an L iron l2 the vertical side of which is out off immediately under bar 4 and which is provided, on either side of the knife, with inclined surfaces I 2a on which the bar to be bent rests. It will be readily understood that, owing to these guiding elements l2a, in the initial position this bar passes between knife 3 and rod 4 and on the contrary the knife can move freely above member l2. On the rear part of guide lZa are provided marks with stops determining the amount by which the bar is to be fed between two successive bending operations, that is to say determining the length of the spires.

However, preferably, the machine is combined with a graduated arm l5 adapted to slide along a frame I 6 and which can be fixed in any desired position (at a given distance from axis 4) by means of fixation nuts I1 for instance. This arm I5 is given, in cross-section, the shape of a U, one of the branches passing above guide lZa while the other one forms a support for guide l2. Bolts l8 fitted with wing nuts and adapted to slide in a groove IQ of this branch serve to fix the inclination of this guide with respect to the shaft of the machine; the head l8a of these bolts i8 is made of a suitable shape for permitting the groove 20 provided in the lower part of guide l2 to engage with them and to be easily disengaged therefrom.

The return to the initial position of the machine after each bending operation which, as it will be explained, consists of a rotation of shaft 2 accompanied by a translation along its axis, can be ensured by a coil spring wound about shaft and working in torsion. Preferably, however, the translation of the shaft is controlled by a earn 2 la integral with shaft 2 and engaging a part of the frame, while rotation is ensured independently by a weight or a spring acting on the portion 2| of the cable wound about pulley 5, the operating pedal acting on the end 2| of this cable.

In order to render the working of the machine easier to understand, I will first explain the mechanical work that it permits to perform and then the adjustment and the control of an operation.

The iron to be bent being placed in guide l2 a as above explained is pushed in the direction of the arrow along the rear guide, passing between rod 4 and knife 3, until it is in the suitable position shown in the drawings, as it will be hereinafter explained.

If shaft 2 is given a suitable rotary movement, iron A, held by knife 3, is caused to wind about rod 4, forming a partA' which makes with part A an angle which depends on the amplitude of the revolution of the shaft and the inclination of the guide; these values of the rotation and the inclination must, in point of fact, be greater than the angles to be finally obtained, so as to make allowance for the elastic deformation of the bar, which will be neglected in the following explanations.

In the example of Fig. 6, the knife must be caused to turn through an angle of 180, so that the two parts A and A will be positioned in parallel planes. If, on the contrary, it is desired to obtain a winding forming a reenforcement of rectangular cross section analogous to those obtained withthe usual loops (Fig. 6) the knife will be caused to turn through an angle of only In the course of its rotation, the knife accompanies the part of the iron with which it is engaged in its longitudinal feed movement resulting from the winding. As soon as this winding operation is finished and when thepedal is released, the knife comes back to its initial position under the combined actions of the counterweight and cam Zia.

The adjustment of the machine according to what kind of reenforcement is to be obtained is diagrammatically shown in Figs. '7 to 12.

It will first be supposed that it is desired to obtain N-shaped spires, as diagrammatically illustrated by Fig. 4. 7

Arm I5 is then placed at the proper distance it corresponding to the height of the spire (Fig. 5) that it is desired to obtain. The point 0 at which guide l2a comes into contact with this arm when it is positioned at right angles to shaft 4 is marked.

Bolts l8 are then fixed on arm l5 at points B1, B2, B3 located, with respect to O, at distances e1, e2, e3 corresponding to the respective pitches of the different spires to be obtained.

The guide being stopped at O, the bar is pushed in the guide (Fig. '7) until its end lies in the vertical plane of the front face of arm l5, as shown by Fig. 13. The bending knife is then caused to turn through an angle of while guide lZa is simultaneously caused to pivot so as to bring it upon mark B1 (Fig. 8).

After this bending operation, the knife; is brought back to its initial position. The guide being still on B1, the bar is pushed (Fig. 9) until it comes into contact with arm l5.

The knife is then again caused to turn through an angle of 180 at the same time as the guide is brought back into the position in which it passes through point 0 (Fig. 10). After the knife has been brought back into its initial position, the iron is pushed until it butts against point 0. The shaft is again caused to turn through an angle of 180 at the same time as the guide is brought back upon mark B1 (Fig. 8). The operation is then repeated indefinitely, so as to obtain alternately parts at right angles to rod 4 and parts disposed obliquely to this axis. It will be noted that it would be possible to obtain bars consisting of a succession of N-shaped elements without modifying the inclination of the guide in the course of the operation. It would suflice, to this effect to modify, between one bending operation and the next one, the length of the branches, that is to say the distance the bar is moved forward. In this case, however, the spire, as it is being formed would extend away from the axis, with an angle equal to d, as. shown in Fig. 10. On the contrary, with the method as just above described, the spires are caused to wind about shaft 2 or the prolonged part thereof. Now this is important because the bending at a produces, in the spires that are already made, torsional reactions which tend to bring this bend b away from said axis and, in order toobtain spires the branches of which are positioned in parallel planes as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6, it is, on the contrary, necessary, when a bend is formed, (for instance the bend shown at b in Fig. 12) that the preceding'bend b should remain in contact with axis 4. Owing to the process above described, the preceding spires such as b turn about the axis 4 and are applied by their side against said rod 4, thus preventing them from being moved away.

When it is desired to obtain V-shaped spires, as shown in Fig. 11, the operation will be similar the interval between the stops being so chosen that 031 is equal to 0B2 is equal to and so on. In this case, the inclination of the guide will be modified only for changing the pitch, that is to say for passing from stop B to stop B for instance, this change in the inclination of the guide with respect to the shaft taking place during the rotation of the knife.

It will be noted that this adjustment system is determined as a function of the height it that the reenforcement is tobe given and the interval between reenforcing elements such as is indicated on the building plan. Therefore the operator has no calculation to make.

The mechanical structure of the shaft and of its control and the arrangement of the means for adjusting the guide might be modified.

It will be readily understood that it would be possible to provide an automatic feed of the bar to be bent. On the other hand it is obvious that the machine makes it possible to obtain helical reenforcing elements of any desired shape, for instance of polygonal cross section, with spires that are not uniformly inclined with respect toone another, and so on.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description. disclosed what I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A machine for the manufacture of helicalshaped elements of reenforcements for reenforced concrete structures, which comprises, in combination, a rigid frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a rod rigid with said shaft and in coaxial line therewith, a knife parallel with said shaft carried by it in eccentric position with respect thereto, and a guiding member pivotally mounted about an axis at right angles to said shaft.

2. A machine for the manufacture of helicalshaped elements of reenforcements for reenforced concrete structures, which comprises, in combination, a rigid frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a rod rigid with said shaft and in coaxial line therewith, a knife parallel with said shaft carried by it in eccentric relation with respect thereto, a guiding member pivotally mounted about an axis at right angles to said shaft and an arm adapted to act as a stop for said guiding member adjustably mounted in parallel relation with said shaft.

3. A machine for the manufacture of helicalshaped elements of reenforcements for reenforced carried by it in eccentric relation with respect 2 thereto, a guiding member pivotally mounted about an axis at right angles to said shaft, an arm adjustably mounted in parallel relation to said shaft, and a plurality of stops adjustable on said arm adapted to cooperate with said guiding member so as to fix the angle of said member with said shaft.

4. A machine according to claim 3 in which said guiding member is provided with a longitudinal groove, said ried in adjustable position along said arm and adapted to engage into said groove, whereby the guiding member can readily engage said stops and be readily disengaged from them.

5. A machine for the manufacture of helicalshaped elements of reenforcements for reenforced concrete structures, which comprises, in combination, a rigid frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a rod rigid with said shaft and in coaxial line therewith, a knife parallel with said shaft and carried by it in eccentric relation with respect thereto, stops respectively carried by said frame and said shaft for limiting the rotation of said shaft in said frame, and a guiding member pivotally mounted in said frame about an axis at right angles to said shaft.

6. A machine according to claim 5 in which said stops are adjustable.

JEAN G. THIBIERGE.

stops consisting of nuts car- 

